PASCAGOULA, MS—The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2018 Façade Grant Program. Façade Grants are due on April 6, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. These are available for Chamber member businesses and organizations with under 50 employees. Examples of façade improvements can include but are not limited to the following: overall cleaning; awnings/canopies; signs; lighting; ornamental elements (i.e. – shutters); painting; general maintenance (i.e. – glass replacement, caulking, etc.); and wall material.

The grants are $2,500 each. The fund allows businesses to apply for these grants through corporate contributions from companies that are interested in the growth and development of the business community in Jackson County. Grants are privately funded. The Chamber is here to support community and business development throughout Jackson County.

Companies wishing to apply for upcoming grants from the Chamber must be active members of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and already be in business. Applications for these grants can be found on the Chamber website (www.jcchamber.com). The deadline to submit the grants electronically is April 6, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. Award recipients will be announced at the Grand Finale and Business After Hours for the 2018 Community Business-to-Business Membership Drive on April 19th. This will also be in celebration of Membership Appreciation Day.

Anyone interested in learning more about the guidelines of this program or joining the Chamber to be able to apply should contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 228-762-3391 or newsletter@jcchamber.com. New members who join between February 22nd and April 9th are also eligible to be in a drawing for a $1,250 Small Business Grant (subject to approval) during the 2018 Community Business-to-Business Membership Drive. New members can also apply for a free outdoor booth at the Jackson County Industrial Trade Show on March 20, 2018. More information can be found online at www.jcchamber.com.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 was $3.11 in the quarter; $12.14 for 2017

Cash from operations was $814 million and free cash flow1 was $453 million in 2017

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Feb. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) reported fourth quarter 2017 revenues of $2.0 billion, up 3.9 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. Operating income in the quarter was $227 million and operating margin was 11.4 percent, compared to $268 million and 13.9 percent, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2016. Diluted earnings per share in the quarter was $1.41, compared to $4.20 in the same period of 2016. Diluted earnings per share in fourth quarter 2017 included a one-time expense related to the early extinguishment of debt, the tax expense for the revaluation of net deferred tax assets resulting from the enactment of the Tax Act and the tax expense associated with a $214 million acceleration of discretionary pension contributions in 2018. Excluding these items, adjusted diluted earnings per share1 in the quarter was $3.11.

For the full year, revenues of $7.4 billion increased 5.3 percent over 2016. Operating income in 2017 was $865 million and operating margin was 11.6 percent, compared to $858 million and 12.1 percent, respectively, in 2016. Diluted earnings per share for the full year was $10.46, compared to $12.14 in 2016. Excluding the one time items described in the preceding paragraph, adjusted diluted earnings per share1 for 2017 was $12.14.

Cash from operations in 2017 was $814 million and free cash flow1 was $453 million, compared to $822 million and $537 million, respectively, in 2016.

New contract awards for 2017 were approximately $8.1 billion, bringing total backlog to $21.4 billion as of Dec. 31, 2017. Major contract awards in 2017 included Bougainville (LHA 8) construction, the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), a contract to begin integrated product and process development for the U.S. Navy’s new Columbia-class submarines, USS Boise (SSN 764) overhaul, LPD 29 (unnamed) advanced procurement, special selected restricted availability on USS Chosin (CG 65), and Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) Flight III upgrades.

The 29th Annual Jackson County Industrial Trade Show will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at the B.E. “Mac” McGinty Civic Center (2902 Shortcut Road) in Pascagoula on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The one day event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Ribbon Cutting will be held at 9:00 a.m. that morning in the Fair Hall next to the Civic Center. The Chairwoman of this year’s event is Melanie Landsiedel of Chevron. This event is open to the business community working in the industrial field. Sponsorships, booths and wall space advertising are now available through the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies looking to be featured at this event. Indoor and outdoor booth spaces are also available to companies with reduced rates for members of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Those looking to join the Chamber between January and February can receive a free outdoor booth with their membership.

Businesses are encouraged to put aside time on this day and allow their employees working in procurement, management, engineering and other industrial fields to attend the event. Participants are also encouraged to invite their business network to attend this show—regionally, nationwide and worldwide. This show is open to the business community. The Jackson County Industrial Trade Show allows businesses of all sizes and many classifications to promote their products and services to other local businesses in one location. The trade show provides the environment of face to face interaction where attendees learn about new and existing products and opportunities.

The Jackson County Industrial Trade Show is one of many examples of economic and community support in the area throughout the year. Additionally, the Jackson County Industrial Suppliers Association (ISA) meets every other month at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. The ISA is sponsored by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s Small Business Issue Manager Group. Programs are designed to provide ideas and information that give businessmen additional resource knowledge and new business opportunities.

Contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce for information on attending or being featured at an ISA meeting, participating in the Jackson County Industrial Trade Show and general Chamber membership information. Call 228-762-3391 or email Linda Johnson at JohnsonL@jcchamber.com. The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is located at 720 Krebs Avenue in Pascagoula. More information can be found online at www.jcchamber.com.

Talks began last year at Americasmart in Atlanta and the products were trialed in Busch Gardens, Va., over the summer to determine if there was a market for their natural products at the parks. Fast-forward to October 2017 and orders began pouring in from Busch Gardens, VA and ALL 7 parks under the SeaWorld Corporation. “We were very surprised and flattered that our products went over so well in VA.” said Mueller.

SeaWorld Corporation is an international company with theme-based parks located across the United States. US park locations include; Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; Chula Vista, California; Tampa, Florida; Williamsburg, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 2012, in Ocean Springs, MS, Marina Cottage Soap Co. has grown their business across the USA. The company offers a wide range of products including all natural soaps, lotions, bubble bath, lip balms and their famous Gneaux more Gnaughty Gnats™ natural repellent. The company specializes in products to help those with Eczema, Psoriasis and other sensitive skin issues. For more information about Marina Cottage Soap Co., go to: www.marinacottage.com

PASCAGOULA – NAACP Moss Point-Jackson County Branch partnered with Chevron Pascagoula Refinery to host a breakfast reception and presentation with the Honorable Andrew Young on February 6. Young is an American politician, diplomat, and activist. An early leader in the civil rights movement, he later became active in politics—serving first as a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, then U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and, finally, Mayor of Atlanta.

Over 200 people attended, including about 20 students from Magnolia Middle School in Moss Point. Chevron partnered with the NAACP to bring Young to speak about his experiences and remaining positive in the face of adversity.

Alan Sudduth, Chevron Public and Government Affairs Manager for Mississippi, welcomed the audience Then Reggie Aaron, Chevron engineer and leader of refinery’s Black Employee Network, introduced Young. for his keynote address.

“I’ve been around a long time and I’ve seen a lot of things,” Young said, “and it upsets me when people say things are no better now than they were back in the 60s.

“Even though things are so much better, they’re still not perfect. So what I try to do is help us understand where we are…. I lived in New Orleans in the middle of a block with an Irish grocery store on one corner, an Italian bar on another, the Nazi Party was on the third corner—and they were hailing Hitler. I was born in 1932, this was about 1936, and I remember it because the way my father explained to me about racism was to take me to the segregated movie to see Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics. And he says about the white supremacists who were in the Nazi Party, who were hailing Hitler 50 yards from where I was born, that white supremacy is a sickness. And you don’t let sick people get you upset—you don’t get mad with sick people. He was a dentist, and he said, when people wake me up in the middle of the night with their teeth hurting, I don’t get mad, I try to fix them.

“You don’t ever get mad with people who are sick. And he said ‘don’t get mad, get smart. If you lose your temper in a fight, you lose the fight.

“Things are changing—and one of the things that we learned as children is the world is everchanging, but God is still the same. So order my steps, and I will praise your name! Now, if that’s where we’re coming from, the world has never been as good as it is today.”

Closing remarks were delivered by Curley Clark, President of the Moss Point-Jackson County NAACP.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that six employees from its Newport News Shipbuilding division were recognized for achievements in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields during the 32nd annual Black Engineer of the Year Award STEM Global Competitiveness Conference. The conference was held last week in Washington, D.C.

Gregory Braxton, a computer systems security analyst, received the Linda Gooden Legacy Award, which is named after the former president of Lockheed Martin Information Technology. Gooden, who was one of the most respected business leaders in defense and aerospace during her 40-year career, also was BEYA’s 2006 Black Engineer of the Year recipient.

Braxton was honored for his efforts to engage local educational institutions, including the Hampton Roads Cybersecurity Education, Workforce and Economic Development Alliance, in developing cybersecurity talent pipelines. He provides an industry perspective on the cybersecurity curriculum, assists the capture cybersecurity curriculum development grants and builds cyber-awareness among local high school students.

Five other Newport News employees received Modern Day Technology Leader awards, which recognize their efforts in shaping the future of engineering, science and technology. They include:

Our Business of the Week is Crazy B’s Coffee & Confections in Pascagoula! Lately, they’ve been busy making King Cakes in addition to their other delicious pastries and coffee drinks. You’ll recognize their beautiful King Cakes from our current King Cake giveaway!

Crazy B’s offers a variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee drinks, teas and smoothies. They have fresh baked cookies, muffins and pastries along with specialty candies and other sweets. They are now serving Kolaches in a variety of flavors and chicken salad sandwiches on croissants.

“I love being a part of the growing Jackson County and Pascagoula business community! We enjoy our customers as much as we enjoy making crazy confections! We are so proud of the support we’ve received and look forward to many years more with the Crazy B’s family!” said Susan Kendrick, Owner/Pastry Chef.

This is the 10th year for Ingalls’ STEM program. The company has awarded more than $911,000 for STEM-related projects during that period.

“I want to thank the educators in this room for making such a substantial contribution to our workforce,” Edmond Hughes, Ingalls’ vice president of human resources and administration, said at a morning ceremony held at the shipyard. “Each year I’m excited to present these grants for such fascinating science, technology, engineering and math projects that will engage hundreds of students in our communities. Ingalls remains committed to helping ensure that our local schools have the resources needed to produce students who are ready to join our ever-growing workforce.”

The 2018 STEM grant recipients and projects are:

Agricola Elementary: Fourth-graders will collaborate to explore, design, build and program a robot to perform certain missions based on a real-world problem. $4,000

Alabama School of Math and Science: Funds will be used to purchase a Redbird Flight Simulator, which will allow students to practice basic flight maneuvers such as: straight and level flight, how to turn an airplane without losing altitude, powered climbs, etc. $4,715

Alabama School of Math and Science: Funds will be used to purchase Raspberry Pi 3, Raspberry Pi Zero W and Pi-Top robots. These credit card-sized robots have the latest technologies that offer students an array of possibilities to extend their learning beyond the classroom. $3,815

Anniston Avenue Elementary: Second- and third-grade students will be introduced to robotics and programming using Lego WeDo 2.0 classroom sets. $5,000

Calcedeaver Elementary: Third- through sixth-grade students will form a robotics team. The team will begin building and programming robots using a Lego Mindstorm kit. $1,500

Cora Castlen Elementary: Applying their knowledge of ecosystems and food webs, students will test water quality and also the oil-absorbing properties of different materials as they engineer a process for cleaning up an oil spill. $5,000

FABLAB Jackson County: Students will participate in a camp where they will learn about basic electronics and computer programming skills by building and programming a robot that will traverse a maze autonomously. $4,719

Gautier Middle School: Students will create a family STEM night for the middle schools in the district. Students will facilitate at a variety of centers in which parents and students can build and become excited about technology. $4,035

Gulfport High School: Students will use anatomy and physiology, health sciences and math classes to build collaborative, co-teaching lessons that show the relationship between the medical field, math and science using zSpace technology, a virtual reality platform. $5,000

Jubilee BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology): This is a volunteer-based program for middle and high schools that teaches skill sets for STEM careers. Students are provided raw materials and must design and manufacture a functioning robot as well as write an engineering notebook. $2,972

Katherine Hankins Middle School: Students will design three-dimensional objects to solve engineering problems, print the objects, then test and redesign for improvements. $3,587

Lizana Elementary School: Funds will be used to purchase materials and printables to create STEM bins and challenges for first-graders. Using a digital camera, students will take pictures of their structures throughout the project process and upload them onto a Chromebook. They will use Chromebooks as a digital tool to publish and share their projects. $5,000

Mary G. Montgomery High School: Students will utilize equipment such as a microplate reader and gel docking station to quantitatively measure molecules such as proteins, sugars, DNA and many more chemical products. $4,887

North Woolmarket Elementary and Middle School: Students will receive a six-month subscription to Kiwi Company. Kiwi Crate will provide a new STEM project for the students each month. $2,190

Ocean Springs Gifted Education: Funds will be used to build a KEVA Corner. In KEVA Corner, students will create original works of art and design and build architectural structures. $4,347

Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School: Funds will be used to purchase a variety of materials that students will use to experience the thrill of engineering and problem-solving as they are challenged to create a particular structure. $2,526

Pascagoula High School: Students will become inspired to learn through exploration in an enzyme activity using cellobiase, a key enzyme associated with biofuel production. $5,000

Pascagoula High School: Students will utilize digital microscopes to view specimens in greater detail than the standard compound light microscope. Students can view a live image, capture a still image for comparison or create short video clips of microscopic organisms. $4,819

Pass Christian Elementary: This robotics project will incorporate the Dash and Dot curriculum in second grade, the Lego WeDo 2.0 curriculum in third grade and the Lego Ev3 Mindstorms in grades four and five. $5,000

Singing River Academy: This project uses virtual reality technology to foster social integration of learners within a classroom environment by bringing together students who have different learning styles and needs. $5,000

St. Martin High School: Students will explore STEM-related career fields through research and the use of K’Nex bridges and simple machines as well as how robots are essential in the construction of everyday products. $2,075

St. Mary Catholic School: The development of the STEAM Plant’s Outdoor Classroom will provide students with an innovative learning environment that becomes an educational model that transcends the traditional classroom, while enhancing the quality of the school environment. $3,045

St. Patrick Catholic High School: A traditional classroom will be transformed into a STEM lab equipped with various tools such as software, virtual resources and interactive activities to prepare and excite students about STEM. Students will be involved in every aspect of the design and layout of the lab. $5,000

Tanner Williams Elementary: Grant funds will be used to purchase instructional resources for students in kindergarten through fifth grades. Library books will be available for teachers to check out for inclusion in classroom lessons and for students to check out as well. In addition, items for exploration, creation and design will be provided to introduce STEM to students and to extend classroom lessons with engaging, hands-on resources. $5,000

Woolmarket Elementary: A stations-based learning platform will allow students with communication deficits to interact with general education students while completing specific STEM activities under the direction and supervision of the school’s speech-language pathologist. $1,527

Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HII’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HII’s Technical Solutions division provides a wide range of professional services through its Fleet Support, Integrated Mission Solutions, Nuclear & Environmental, and Oil & Gas groups. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs nearly 37,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit:

April McDonald Andrews, an attorney with the firm of Heidelberg Steinberger, P.A. in Pascagoula, has been selected to join the Mississippi Bar Association’s 2018 Leadership Forum.

McDonald Andrews was chosen from a number of capable and qualified applicants because of her effective guidance of others in the legal profession. Through the Leadership Forum, participants will gain leadership skills that will equip them for leadership roles in their professions, organizations and communities.

McDonald Andrews is a graduate of Delta State University and the Mississippi College School of Law. She has been practicing law since 2011. Her practice areas include insurance defense and government law, as well as general and appellate litigation.

Pascagoula attorney Karl Steinberger was recently honored as the 2017 Lawyer of the Year and as one of the Top 40 Leaders in Law by the Mississippi Business Journal. Steinberger, who is a shareholder and director at Heidelberg, Steinberger P.A., was selected for his outstanding efforts and accomplishments in the legal practice.

“I’m very fortunate and quite humbled to be named as a leader in the legal profession and honored to be recognized with some of the state’s best attorneys,” said Steinberger. “For over 40 years, I’ve worked to represent my clients’ best interests and am thankful for a career which I’ve helped many people and different organizations.”

Steinberger has been consistently recognized as an Outstanding Lawyer of America and as a Mid-South Super Lawyer. He is an active member of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and serves as the President of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. In the past, he also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mississippi Bar Association.

Steinberger has been practicing law in Pascagoula since 1976. His specialty is employment law and workers compensation, and he also focuses on insurance defense, products liability, personal injury and wills and estates.

He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi School of Law.

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